EVM Row: Embarrassment For Congress As Amarinder Singh And Moily Refuse To Parrot Party Line

Punjab’s newly-elected Chief Minister Amarinder Singh distanced himself from the Congress Party’s official line on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) on Tuesday, saying that he would not have been in power if the EVMs were tampered with.

“If EVMs were fixed then I wouldn't be sitting here. The Akalis would,” he said on Tuesday, contradicting his party’s official line.

He is not the first senior Congress leader who has defended EVMs. Earlier, Congress leader Veerappa Moily had vented his ire on the party's decision to join the opposition chorus against EVMs, calling it a “defeatist” mindset while arguing that the voting machines are beyond doubt.

On Monday, the Congress had emphasised on using ballot paper scrutiny instead of using electronic system while stating that they have faith in the Election Commission of India, but not on the EVMs.

The opposition, rallied by the Congress, met President Pranab Mukherjee today, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party was indulging in EVM tampering. The 13-member delegation raised question over alleged tampering of the EVM machines while stating that it has raised question on the electoral process.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has thrown an open challenge to the party leaders, daring them to hack the voting machines. The invitation, given to political parties, scientists and technicians, will be available from the first week of May to prove whether the EVMs could be hacked or not. The move comes days after the opposition parties demanded replacement of EVMs with ballot paper.

With inputs from ANI

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